World:
2016-2017 Winners
The World of 7 Billion contest is a project of the Population Education program, provider of K-12 classroom resources and professional development opportunities. The contest is run every school year. Click on a topic below to view the winning videos.
Contest Judges
| Mary Barbara Alexander | Actress/Activist/Farmer, No specific affiliation |
| Benjamin Alexandro | Water Policy Advocate, Maryland League of Conservation Voters |
| Ginny Beauregard | Film Producer/Environmental Educator, Independent |
| Molly Berg | Programming Manager, Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital |
| Joe Bish | Director of Issue Advocacy, Population Media Center |
| June Blotnick | Executive Director, Clean Air Carolina |
| Hartwell Carson | French Broad Riverkeeper, MountainTrue |
| Diana Cole | Science teacher, Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School |
| Angelina Collazo | Coordinator, Programs Operations, Teach For America - New York |
| Ken Conca, Ph.D. | Professor of International Relations, American University |
| Emily Culp | Teacher, DCPS |
| James Gerber, Ph.D. | Co-Director, Global Landscapes Initiative, University of Minnesota |
| April Haight, Ed.D. | Director, Center for Environmental Education, Morehead State University |
| Cynthia Hubach | Urban Agriculture Activist, Los Angeles Community Garden Council |
| Joyce Johnson | Producer, Tiroir A Films |
| Sharon Kinsey | County 4-H Agent/Associate Professor, Camden County 4-H Youth Development Program |
| Peter Ladner | Board Chair, David Suzuki Foundation |
| Carrianne B. McClellan | Media Coordinator, Cumberland County Schools |
| Nancy Milizia | Retired Medical Technologist |
| Laura S. Minor, MS, PA | Adjunct Professor |
| Alice P. Neuhauser | Partner, Complete Rights Management |
| Hannah O'Malley | Education Coordinator, Disney's Animals, Science and Environment |
| Ellen Potts | Development Assistant, Population Connection |
| Karla Raettig | Executive Director, Maryland League of Conservation Voters |
| Brian Richter | President, Sustainable Waters |
| Mindy Roberts | Puget Sound Director, Washington Environmental Council |
| Karen Roos | Environmental Educator, Greenbelt Conservancy |
| DawnElla Rust, Ed.D | Health Science Professor, Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Jeremy Scherer | Filmmaker, Parallel 40 Productions |
| John Seager | President and CEO, Population Connection |
| Emilee Syrewicze, JD | Executive Director, Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation |
| Hawa Toure | Quality Assurance Reviewer DOJ, Gandhi Birdage and SANAD Syria |
| David Vernier | Founder and Co-President, Vernier Software & Technology |
Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated in the 2016-2017 World of 7 Billion student video contest. We were blown away by the creativity, passion, and expertise showcased throughout the videos, especially by the 18 winning films.
The contest first ran during the 2010-2011 school year as a “teachable moment” around world population reaching 7 billion. 619 videos were received from 36 U.S. states and four countries abroad in that first year and it was meant to be a one-time event. But we received such positive feedback from teachers – many wanted to participate again and make the contest a permanent project in their courses – that we decided to make the contest an annual event.
Now in its 6th year, nearly 8,000 student-made videos on the impacts of population have been created as a direct result of the contest. Thousands of students are now more aware of the vast connections between population and so many of today’s pressing global challenges.
We look forward to continuing the contest into the future and watching as more students explore the complexities of population growth through film.